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Now that the threat of the Wild Hunt no longer loomed over Fairhaven, I owed Otto an explanation for my recent visit. I brought a bottle of wine as a goodwill gesture. It wasn’t expensive and had been on sale at the store, but it was the thought that counted. I hoped.
Heidi answered the door. “You look presentable today.”
I held up the bottle of wine. “I come bearing gifts for His Majesty.”
“He’d sooner swallow arsenic before he’d drink that, but I’ll bring a cork remover to the study all the same.”
Heidi’s honesty was brutal but refreshing.
“It won’t go to waste, mind you,” she added. “I’ll drink it.”
We parted ways in the foyer. I walked the length of the familiar corridor to the study. Otto sat on the sofa wearing his headphones again. I crossed the room and tapped his shoulder.
Otto pulled down his headphones.
“Hey,” I greeted him.
“What did I do to deserve a repeat performance? I’ve been listening to an audiobook, but I’d much rather listen to you play again.”
“Sorry. I’m not here for an encore.”
“Ah, well, it was a memorable performance. What I’d like to know is what prompted it after so many refusals.”
“We should probably both be seated for this conversation. I brought a nice bottle of wine to mark the occasion. Heidi’s bringing a corkscrew.”
He didn’t ask for the particulars, nor did I offer them. I’d let Heidi run interference on that.
I joined the vampire on the sofa and set the bottle on the coffee table.
Heidi bustled into the room a moment later, carrying a tray with two goblets and a cork remover. She pulled a bottle from the deep recesses of her pocket and swapped it with mine. She proceeded to pluck out the cork in one swift move and filled the goblets with rich red liquid. With a wink at me, she withdrew from the study.
Otto sipped first. “Divine. Where did you get such a bounty?”
The lie tumbled from my lips. “Kane donated it out of the kindness of his heart.”
“Your demon lover has excellent taste.”
“You may feel differently in a minute.” I sucked down a mouthful of liquid courage.
“Before you begin,” Otto said, “I’d like to say that I know I’ve pressed you on occasion to reveal your secrets, but now that I feel the moment’s at hand, please don’t feel obligated. You owe me nothing.”
I felt a rush of affection for the vampire. “I don’t feel obligated. I want to tell you.” Especially given the number of residents that already knew. It wasn’t fair to leave out Otto, who’d proven himself to be loyal and caring.
“Very well then. I’m all ears.” He made a show of setting aside the headphones.
I drew a deep breath and told him everything—my identity, my parents, their murder by The Corporation, the rival Fates. The only secret I kept was that I’d reached the next level of my relationship with Kane. That one was off limits, although knowing Otto, he’d drag it out of me eventually.
When I finally finished speaking, Otto remained silent, presumably processing the information. He took another long drink of wine, followed by more silence.
“Well?” I prodded. “Any remarks?”
He tapped his fingers on the stem of the goblet. “You finally make sense.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“I’m serious, Lorelei. There were so many missing pieces of you, which made it difficult to get a clear picture. Now I finally see you as you are, rather than how you want me to see you.”
“And that’s better?”
